-The Indian Express We have long ignored the vital role public educational institutions play as exemplary sites of social inclusion and relative equality. In Indian conditions, this role is arguably even more important than the scholastic role. The current craze for online education (OE) reminds me of the wall graffiti advertising sex clinics that are visible across urban north India. These ads promise guaranteed cures — shartiya ilaj — for all kinds...
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Chalk and cheese in private vs. government schools -Wilima Wadhwa
-The Hindu The Annual Status of Education Report findings make a clear case for strengthening early childhood education centres One of the big debates in early childhood education is on children’s “school readiness” and whether early childhood education provides them with the requisite skills to cope with the school curriculum. A vast literature exists on the importance of certain cognitive abilities that are supposed to be developed during the years children spend...
More »Why an industrial policy is crucial -Santosh Mehrotra
-The Hindu No major country has managed to reduce poverty or sustain economic growth without a robust manufacturing sector The contribution of manufacturing to GDP in 2017 was only about 16%, a stagnation since the economic reforms began in 1991. The contrast with the major Asian economies is significant. For example, Malaysia roughly tripled its share of manufacturing in GDP to 24%, while Thailand’s share increased from 13% to 33% (1960-2014). In...
More »There's a hole in the data -Kiran Bhatty & Dipa Sinha
-The Indian Express The state has failed to create capacities for a timely, reliable, decentralised data regime. The credibility of India’s data systems is under serious threat with the recent controversy over the employment data of the National Sample Survey. While the Census of India and the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) have a good reputation, when it comes to data related to the social sector — health, education, nutrition —...
More »India ends PISA boycott, signs pact with OECD
-The Indian Express PISA — introduced in 2000 by OECD — tests the Learning levels of 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics and science. The test is conducted every three years. CONFIRMING INDIA’s participation in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) in 2021, the HRD Ministry signed an agreement with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation Development (OECD) on Monday. PISA — introduced in 2000 by OECD — tests the Learning levels of 15-year-olds...
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